Rookie manager Mike Redmond defers to his bosses when asked if Yelich could be on the opening-day roster.

"They might come down and tell me to quit playing him," Redmond said with a laugh. "It's fun to get him in there. You feel like any situation he comes up he's got a chance to do something, and he hits a home run to dead center to win it."

Even if Yelich is ready to break camp with the big league club, the Marlins may hold him back until late April to gain an extra year before he's eligible for free agency. If he was held back until about June, Miami would likely get an extra year before Yelich is eligible for arbitration.

The 21-year-old Yelich was Miami's first-round pick in 2010. The 6-foot-4, 189-pound left-handed hitter grew up in Thousand Oaks, Calif. A corner infielder in high school, he moved to the outfield in the minors and has been tabbed the Marlins' center fielder of the future.

Yelich's mother arrived from California last weekend to watch her son play. She has seen him homer in consecutive games -- he went deep against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday before his game-winner against Boston.

"That was pretty cool -- I don't really know what to say. You can't draw it up any better," Yelich said. "This is the second walkoff home run in my life. The first one was a playoff game at (Class-A) Greensboro two years ago."

Slowey gave up three runs and two hits in three innings as he fights to become Miami's fifth starter. He walked two and struck out five in his first spring start after previously throwing 6 1-3 scoreless relief innings.